Finger-pointing at Iran is misdirected

Re “Some U.S. Officials Fear Iran Is Helping Al Qaeda,” March 21

Your article cites numerous assertions made by U.S. intelligence officials that Iran may be assisting Al Qaeda. The Times granted these officials anonymity because they have supposedly not been authorized to speak publicly. As the administration tries to build a case for military action against Iran, I doubt these officials did not have the authority to spread this speculation through the media.

I expect more from The Times than government propaganda, and these “officials” did not deserve anonymity. The Times is doing a disservice by refusing to identify them so we may hold them and their claims accountable.

TIM GRANEY

Los Angeles

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This article contains baseless allegations intended to demonize the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran has condemned Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorism as well as all other terrorist acts, and it has fulfilled its responsibility respecting the U.N. resolutions against the evil of terrorism by arresting scores of Al Qaeda terrorists venturing inside Iran, presenting lists of their names to the United Nations and turning them over to their respective governments.

In December 2004, the chairman of the U.N. Security Council Committee on Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Associated Individuals and Entities reported about the “sincere commitment in the Islamic Republic of Iran to work with the committee.” Sadly, the U.S. media continue to ignore Iran’s important role as a pillar of peace and stability in the region by misrepresenting Iran’s steadfast fight against terrorism, notwithstanding the fact that Iran has been a victim of terror and has lost a president, a prime minister and more than 70 lawmakers at the hands of terrorists since the revolution, not to mention the Taliban’s massacre of scores of Iranian diplomats in Afghanistan.

MOHAMMAD MIRALIMOHAMMADI

Head of the Press Section

Permanent Mission of Iran

to the U.N., New York